Friday, October 31, 2008

Happy Halloween!


The Wee One's school did Trick or Treating yesterday so here she is as Belle. We had a costume emergency on Wednesday night when we realized that her Cinderella dress has a shredded hem. Hmmmm. She didn't want to be Snow White for school so Belle it was.

We found some yellow ribbon in my sewing basket for her hair & a makeshift bracelet. Some beads from my stitch maarker beads provided decoration for the bracelet. All was good!

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

From my friend Christine


http://www.helloquizzy.com/tests/howard-gardners-eight-types-of-intelligence-test



Great quiz & in case there was any doubt:


Interpersonal

8% Logical, 22% Spatial, 22% Linguistic, 39% Intrapersonal, 49% Interpersonal, 47% Musical, 25% Bodily-Kinesthetic and 29% Naturalistic!

Interpersonal

"This area has to do with interaction with others. People in this category are usually extroverts and are characterized by their sensitivity to others' moods, feelings, temperaments and motivations, and their ability to cooperate in order to work as part of a group. They communicate effectively and empathize easily with others, and may be either leaders or followers. They typically learn best by working with others and often enjoy discussion and debate.

Careers which suit those with this intelligence include politicians, managers, teachers, social workers and diplomats." (Wikipedia)

Friday, October 24, 2008

What has happened to us?

As a society, I mean.

When I was in grade school (Good ol' St. Francis Xavier) we were expected to conduct ourselves a certain way. Period. Didn't matter if you were in 1st grade or 8th. You behaved at school or else.
If you got in trouble--and this was in the days where your teacher could physically discipline you, and trust me, the nuns (old school nuns imported from Canada even!) did. But if you got in trouble, you got in trouble twice, once at school (complete with discipline) & again at home when your parents found out what went down at school.

Were we abused? Far from it! By the time we were in high school, it was obvious who had gone to public grade school & who had gone to St. Francis. I'm not saying public school kids are thugs, but in this instance there was a distinct difference in behavior. A lot of the ps kids were well behaved but all of the trouble makers in school? PS kids.

A woman who used to live here (we were in MOMS together) is now subbing in her hometown & reading her blog is frightening. The behavior of these kids is horrific. As a Catholic school kid herself, she sees the change in society I just mentioned.

Parents don't seem to want to take responsibility for their child's bad behavior. It even carries over to toddlers. Your 2 yr old wants to take her clothes off all the time? Oh, Sensory Disorder! Your 4 yr old is acting out in Prek? ADHD!

I may or may not have made excuses for the Wee One's bad behavior when Hunter was gone ("her father is deployed"). Nah, I'll own it--- I did. Looking back, I can trace her behavior to occasions in her life where things were upsetting (Hunter being gone). A lot of military wives can't handle it when their husbands are gone, yet I expect a 3 yr old to carry on as if nothing had changed?

I would find a little extra attention & saying "it's okay to miss Daddy, I miss him too" would help. We survived & moved on. And without medication!

Why is it that we are so quick to label our children? Is it out of fear? Are we worried that those around us will judge our parenting abilities? Will we be sent to Remedial Parenting 101? Some of us could use that class!

I'm not a perfect parent & I don't have a perfect child. Far from it. But I TRY to be a good mother. I believe that children will rise to your expectations, regardless of what they are. If you expect your child to behave a certain way, be it good or bad, they will. If you call your child a demon, guess what you have on your hands!

Praising your child, catching them doing something right goes so far in their eyes. They believe they have self worth & their self esteem rises. If your only interaction with your child is to always tell them "no, NO, don't that/brat/ etc" guess what they're going to think. Very quickly they will learn that any attention, even negative attention is good.

Please know that I don't think all kids whose parents seek diagnosis are just posterkids for bad behavior. I just really think (and this is MY opinion & if I can't express it on MY blog then where can I?!) that as a society we're looking for answers that don't go beyond our front door.

*stepping off soapbox*

On a semi-knitting note, I'm mailing out my Favorite Things box today! What a fun swap!

MIL & FIL arrive on Sunday!

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Pumpkin Patch Visit

The Farmhouse in Ellerslie, GA. Isn't it gorgeous?





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My beautiful girl posing with the pumpkins.
The Wee One & Mommy on the porch & lastly, pumpkins in the yard.

If you live in this part of GA, I highly recommend going. The Farmhouse is open Fridays & Saturdays for lunch & rumor has it, the desserts are to die for.

I just want to sit in the house & knit---it's a beautiful old farmhouse!

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Mission Completion!


Emily has received our box & the Knitting Aces have officially crossed the finish line for Dish Rag Tag: the sequel! I really had fun with this swap & look forward to next year's DRT.




I had a nice breakfast date w/ Hunter this morning while the Wee One was at school. Yesterday morning we cleaned out his old Army closet which is now the Wee One's closet. 8 trash bags later we were done. I am scared for when he retires. Seriously---3 cvc's, 2 K-pots, 4 aid bags, 3 duffel bags, various & sundry other bags, skeeter tent, etc etc. Suddenly my yarn stash was puny.

Tonight we're taking it easy & watching tv. I know there's something going on in Boston that may be televised on TBS involving a certain sports team but today is anti-fan day. No hot dogs, no singing those 3 songs, no wearing red, no prayer.

Monday, October 13, 2008

An open letter to the Boston Red Sox

Dear Red Sox,

Hi, I'd ask how you're doing but I think we all know.

In case you guys didn't know, I like to knit. A lot. Love to, really. I started going to a knit group over the summer & really enjoy it. Without sounding cliche, it's a wonderful group of women, fun atmosphere & 2 hrs of uninterrupted knitting. What more could a girl ask for?

Well, the last couple weeks I've stayed home from knit group just so I could watch you play. Last week you won, which I really appreciate. I do! I cheered, sang "Tessie", the whole 9.

Saturday night's game was disappointing to say the least.

Tonight's game? What's worse than disappointing? Devastating? Crushing? Straight out painful??

Yeah.

So, if you don't mind, please kick it in & win the next 3 games? I'd really appreciate it!

Saturday, October 11, 2008

DishRag Tag!

Here's the box from Sandra in VA---a pretty green cloth, pink varigated yarn, body spray & a cute little lamb PEZ dispenser as well as the super secret pattern for DishRag Tag. It arrived around 430 yesterday afternoon. I finished the first 9 rows (bottom border) before we went out to dinner.









And here it is shortly past 1015 last night. It's going out in the mail in a little while.

The Wee One's got a nice cough & is camped out on the couch watching the Little Einsteins. I think our plans to go to AutumnFest @ Callaway Gardens have been nixed.

Friday, October 10, 2008

Join me won't you

Tonight is Game 1 of the ALCS. As they say at the Wee One's school, let's do prayer hands:


Our Father, who art at Fenway...

Baseball be thy game.

Thy Nation come,

Playoffs need to be won,

On Earth, then on to the Cask 'n' Flagon.

Give us this day, a perfect Papi,

And forgive us our losses,

As we forgive those,

Like Bill Buckner.

And lead us not, into desperation

But deliver us from any losses.

For thine is the Power,

And the Glory,

To beat the Devil Rays,

Forever and ever....the Yankees suck

Amen.


GO SOX!!!!!!




I received the box for DishRag Tag & am working on the cloth---FUN pattern!!! My goal is to get it in the mail tomorrow but I feel like I'm fighting a cold or something so we'll see how much I can get done.

Tuesday, October 07, 2008

Sweet Caroline--Wee One Style

We're going to work on our renditions of "Dirty Water" & "Tessie"next!

(Sorry, you'll have to turn your head or computer to see it straight on)

I stopped recording before Hunter said "Say 'Go Braves!' " & she replied "Um, NO!"

Monday, October 06, 2008

Sometimes you need a higher power

Last night was definitely time. So, in anticipation of tonight's game, won't you join me in a little prayer:



Our Father, who art at Fenway...

Baseball be thy game.

Thy Nation come,

Playoffs need to be won,

On Earth, then on to the Cask 'n' Flagon.

Give us this day, a perfect Papi,

And forgive us our losses,

As we forgive those,

Like Bill Buckner.

And lead us not, into desperation

But deliver us from any losses.

For thine is the Power,

And the Glory,

To beat the Angels,

Forever and ever....the Yankees suck

Amen.

GO SOX!!!

Saturday, October 04, 2008

Baby, it's NOT cold outside!

In fact, it's hot. Africa hot (Biloxi Blues anyone?). 87 is our high today. I am sick of wearing shorts & t shirts. I want to put my sandals away. I am a Vermont girl who loves, no LOVES fall. I look forward to cool mornings w/ that crisp feeling in the air. I love nothing more to go walking & scuffle thru the fallen leaves. This whole 90 degree weather in October? Not for me. So, Mother Nature, feel free to send some 60's & 70's this way. As a high temp, I mean!

I was shopping for some fall clothes for the Wee One this week & found the cutest red shrug at Carter's. It's for the holidays w/ just the smallest hint of metallic thread running thru the yarn. Like any good knitter, I thought "hmmm, I could make this" so I didn't buy it. Today I went looking for the yarn---found it at Michael's where I discovered it's 4.99$ a 50g ball. Not bad right. It'll take me 5 balls to make the shrug which is on sale for 15$. Do I buy a ball a week w/ the coupon from the Sunday paper or do I just buy the premade shrug. It is quite cute. I could make her another shrug. Gah!
Here's a glimpse of the little bit of foliage we've got right now. Hey, a girl's got to dream, right??